Improvement in ditchers



W. STACY. Ditoher.

Patented Sept. 16, 1879.

MPEIERS, PHOTO-LITHDGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. a Q.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM STACY, OF COTTAGE, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DITCHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 219,778, dated September 16, 1879 application filed July 22, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM STACY, of Gottage, in the county of Hardin and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Ditchers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in ditchers; and it consists in the construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure l is a plan view, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

A represents the main beam, and A A represent two short beams, connected together by means of a metal rod, a.

The beams A and A are secured together by means of cross-bars B, and when the said parts are so attached they form the frame, the forward end of which is braced by braces b c and provided with a clevis, d, by which the machine is drawn.

0 represents a post or standard, attached to the main beam A and extending downward, and to which is attached the shoe D. The said shoe is provided with a suitable point, d, and attached thereto and extending upward to the frame, where they are secured, are the knives E E.

When it is desired to cut the ditch more flaring the knives may be arranged as at E. Said knives are strengthened by means of braces e c, which also act as colters and assist the entering of the knives into the ground.

F represents the mold-board, having parts f j attached thereto, which serve to prevent the dirt from dropping into the ditch, and which can be detached at pleasure. Gr represents a platform, upon which the operator stands, if desired, when the device is in operation. Said platform is supported upon the frame, and under which and extending on an angle down to the shoe D are braces g g, for the purpose of aiding in the support of said platform, and for taking the backward strain and keeping the shoe in position. I

h h represent two brace-rods extending from the shoe D to the beams A A, which serve to hold the said shoe more firmly in position. 1' represents a rod passed through the post 0 and shoe D, which also serves to strengthen the device.

The advantages of the device are as follows: The construction of the frame allows the furrow to be moved directly out between the short beams over the bar a, instead of having to raise it to a considerable distance, as heretofore, and thereby avoiding the tendency to clog, which it would do upon a solid beam; also, in making the draft one-third lighter and retaining the same low and direct also, in requiring less water to operate it, and thereby providing a device that will work easily in all kinds of ground.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a ditching-machine, the frame composed of main beam A, short beams A A, beams A connected by bar a, cross-bar B, shoe D, post 0, mold-board F, and platform G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM STACY.

Witnesses:

W. H. Woons, E. S. ELLSWORTH. 

